Rotary cutter



Feb. 2, 1960 s. w. HENDERSON ROTARY CUTTER Filed May 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. a 002? WMJW Feb. 2, 1960 s. w. HENDERSON 2,923,117

ROTARY CUTTER Filed May 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY QoWJZZWM/ M United States Patent '0 ROTARY CUTTER Scott W. Henderson, Kokomo; Ind.

Application May 20, 1957, Serial No. 660,385 4 Claims. 01. 56 -294 The present invention is directed to a new and improved form ,of'rotarycutter for use in lawn mowers and the like, the cutter beingin the form of a rotatable tubular shaft having readily' detachable blade members carried thereby on the outer. periphery thereof. More specifically, the present invention is directed to new and improved detachable cutter blade structures particularly adapted for mounting on a tubular sleeve-like shaft for rotation therewithto provide impact cutting action at relatively high rotatable speeds without the necessity of using a cutter bar of known type and arrangement.

It is an object of the presentinvention to provide a new and improved form of rotary cutter particularly adapted for use with power operated lawn mowers, the cutter being in the form of a tubular shaft which is adapted for being belt driven by the power unit of a lawn mower, the outer periphery of the shaft carrying a plurality of spaced blade members which are detachably mounted thereon, the blade members being of a new and improved design readily adapting the same for variation in structural arrangement without loss of efliciency in cutting action.

A further object is to provide a new and improved rotary cutter of the type described wherein variable forms of blade holding means can be efficiently used to detachably hold blade members on the outer periphery of a rotatable tube, the blade holding means being adapted for readily releasing the blade members attached to the tube thereby for maintenance purposes, such as sharpening, or for replacement.

Other objects not specifically set forth will become apparent from the following detailed description made in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

. Fig.1 is a fragmentary perspective of one form of power driven lawn mower including therein the improved rotary cutter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section of the rotary cutter taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 illustrating one form of mounting the same in the mower for operation bythe power unit thereof;

Fig-3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section of one form of blade member and blade holding means provided thereafore in detachably mounting the same on the outer periphery of the rotatable tube taken on line 3-3 of Fig-2;v

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective of the blade member and blade holding means of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective of a modified form of blade member;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of a modified form of blade holding means particularly adapted for use in detachably mounting the blade member of Fig. 5 on the outer periphery of the tube;

Fig.' 7 isa'fragmentary longitudinal section similar 1 to, Fig.3 and on a reduced scale of themanner in which.

V ing of blade members is concerned and is fully disclosed 2,923,117 Patented Feb. 2, 1960 the blade holding means. of Fig. 6 is used to mount the blade member of Fig. 5 on the outer periphery of the tube;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section of another form" of means constitutes an improvement over the structural ar- Rotary cutto cut grass rangement disclosed in my earlier patent. ters of this type are particularly designed and the like effectively without the use of or ledger plate in associationtherewithQ members carried by the rotating supporting member cuts vegetation with a sickle-like action at speed rather than utilizing a shearing-type a cutter bar part of the structural arrangement. a

In Fig. l a power mower 15 is illustrated'as including a handle member 16 attached at the lowermost end thereof with a hood-like housing ing 17 about a n'xed shaft 19 the outer ends of Whichar'e journalled in rotatablewheels 20. The handle structure 16 is further attached to the housing 17 by a stabilizing rod 21. 'The top portion of the housing 17 supports a power unit 22 which, as illustrated, is a gas' driven engine having a belt housing 23 forming a part-thereof.

Any' suitable rotary cutter driving arrangement can beutilized' such as the use of a belt 24 shown in Fig. 2 in; driving engagement with the rotary cutter structure 18 and being unven by a suitable engine operated pulley located above the housing'17 and'ln thehousing23. a 'T Referring particularly to Fig. 2, the rotary cutter structure 18 includes a tube'25 'co'ncentricallymounted about the shaft '19 by tube end structures or elements 26 and 2e carrying the outer race 27 of ball bearmgstructures, the inner race 26 of each being fixedly carried by the shaft 19. 1he tube end. structures 26 and 26' are in the form of annular collars provided with a circumferentially' continuous axial Ilange 29 received within tne endsio'f the tube 25 and suitably attached'thereto. The left tube end structure 20 as v ewed in Fig. 2 is provided with an axially outwardly directed shoulder portion 30 hav" ing a belt receiving groove 31 therein which seats the belt 24 for rotating the tube 25 about the shaft-19.u End plate washers .52 are received about the shaft 19in-v termediate the end structures 26 and 26' and the housing.

The outer periphery of the tube 25 carries a pluarltiy of. detachable blade members 33 which are mounted to form a plurality of longitudinally extending rows with the blade members of each successive row beingofiset to provide for overlapping cutting portions. This type,

of arrangement is conventional insofar as the position+ in my aforementioned patent. The staggered mountr ing of the blade members provides for standard cutting-v operation including a plurality of overlapping cutt ng, paths to cut a swath that lapsthe'immediately ad acentswath on either side thereof. The preferred. form of blade The blade high impact; action such as is present where a cutter bar or ledger plate forma 17. A rotary cutter 18 shown in Fig. 2 is rotatably mounted within the housf member a detachable blade holding member structure is shown .ln-

3 Figs. 2-4 wherein each blade member 33 is formed with a mounting portion of generally U-shape having an arcuate bottom wall 34 conforming with the curvature of the outer periphery of the tube 25. Opposite side margins of the bottom wall 34 having integrally formed therewith upstanding side walls 35 each of which has integrally for med at the top edge v thereof anupwardly dir ectdi and outwardly inclined cutting portion 36. As

particularly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, each cutting portion 3 6 is provided with a slightly forwardly inclined bevelled cutting edge 37 with the rear face of the cutting portion 36 being curved rearwardly from the outermost tip of the cutting edge 37 to its point of juncture. with the top edge portion of its supporting side wall 35. The cutting portioiis thus defined are wing-shaped and the .inclination of each cutting portion 36 relative to the outer periphery ofgthe tube ZS defines ,an angle which is atleast 45 This angl e of inclinationallows thecuttingportions 36 tof'readily shed fragments of vegetation snch as grass whiehit severs during operation of the md'werz.

v blade member 33.is provided with a drilled opening 38 throughthe bottom wall- 34 thereof for alignment ifii afdrilledopenirig 39 extending through a metallic, preferably non-flexible strap 40 constituting the blade member holding means for use with the blade member 33. The strap 40 is arcuate toconform with the shape of the bottom wall 34 of the blade member 33 and one end thereof is provided .with an outwardly extending and downwardly depending lug or hook-like member 41 which is received in an aperture 42 in the tube 25. The strap 40 isv received in engagement with the top surface of the bottom wall 34 and the lug 41 is inserted in the opening 42 of the tube 25. The apertures 38 and 39. are aligned with one another and with a further threaded. opening formed in the tube 25 and a fastening means 43, such as a screw, is advanced therethrough to tightenthe blade assembly to the outer periphery of the tube 25.

The detachable blade arrangement described is readily adapted for efiiicientv use with .the rotary cutter structure of the present invention. Ascan be readily appreciated, each blade can be attached or detached without requiring the use of special tools or equipment. This is particularly important from the standpoint of maintenance with the user being able to remove any or all of the blade members for replacement purposes or for the purpose of sharpening the same.

Figs. -7 illustrate amodification of the blade member 33..and blade holding means readily adapted for detachable mounting onthe tube 25. As particularly shown in Fig. 5, the blade member33' is of the same structural arrangement'as the blade member 33 described above. Due to the structural similarity between these two forms of blade members, primed reference numerals are used in Figs."5 and 7 to indicate similar structural parts. The blade member33 is modified only to a slight degree in that the bottom wall 345 of the blade member mounting portion is not provided with the opening 38 described earlier in connection with the blade member 33. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7,'a strap 44 having a raised arcuate central portion 45 and oppositelypositioned, downwardly offset attaching ears 46 integrally formed with the ends of the central portion 45 is particularly adapted for detachably mounting a blade.33' to the outer periphery ofthe tube 25. Each of the attaching ears 46 of the strap 44 is provided with a drilled opening 47 through which fasteners 48, such as .screws, are received and threadedly advanced into aligned-openings in the tube 25' following the positioning of'the's'trap' 44 between the upstandingside walls 35' of thbla'de'inmb'er 33" in engagement'with the top surface'i'of the' bottom wall 34'. 'The attaching ears 46are sufficien'tlyoffset to accommodate the thickness of the bottom 'wall 34' and tightly hold the blade member 33 in its operative position on the tube 25' while allowing ready detachment for replacement or maintenance purposes;

Fig. 8 illustrates still a further modified form of blade member 49 and blade member holding means in the form of spaced bracket-like plates 50 suitably attached to the tube 25" by rivets 51. The blade member 49 is provided with a mounting portion defined by an arcuate bottom wall 52 having integrally formed along opposite side margins upwardly directed side walls 53 which are inclined toward one another. The top margin of each side wall 53 has integrally attached thereto a cutting portion 54 which extends upwardly in an outwardly inclined relation therefrom. Each of the cutting portions 54 are of at least substantially the same configuration as the cutting portions 36 and 36 previously described. The angular relationship between the cutting portions 54 and the tube 25" is also substantially the same.

The area of juncture between each side wall 53 and cutting portion 54 defines an outer groove 55 extending along the side margins of the blade member 49. Each bracket-like plate 50 is provided with a generally horizontal outer portion in engagement with the outer periphery of the tubev 25" and attached thereto by the rivets 51. An integrally joined inner portion 56 is also provided which is inwardly and upwardly inclined away from the outer surface of the tube 25". The ends of the portions 56 are substantially received within the grooves 55 and the inner surface of each portion 56 is in holding engagement with the outer surface of an adjacent side wall 53. In this manner each blade member 49 is frictionally held in its operative position on the. tube 25 and the blade member may be detached from the tube 25" by forcing the blade in a direction following thecontour of the outer surface of the tube 25" to an extent that the blade member eventually clears. the holding flange portion 56. The holding plates 50, in etfect, define therebetween a groove which is preferably narrower at one end into which the blade member 49 is force-fitted and retainedv by frictional engagement with the holding plates50.

Fig. 9 illustrates still a further modification utilizing a blade member 57 held in operative position on the outer periphery of the tube 25" by means of a modified form of blade member mounting plate 58. The blade member 57 includes a mounting portion which is defined by a raised intermediate wall 59 having formed integrally on the side margins thereof depending side walls 60. The side walls 60 extend downwardly in inclined relation toward one .another and the bottom margins of the same have integrally formed therewith reversely folded and upwardly and outwardly directed cutting portions 61. The cutting portions 61 are of similardesign as previously described conforming to the preferred angular relation existingbetween the same. and the outer surface of the tube25.

The blade member mounting plate '58 is formed with an intermediate bottom wall portion 62 which is in engagement with the outer surface ofthe tube 25" and attached thereto by a suitable fastener suchas a screw63. The side margins of the bottom wall 62 has integrally formed therewith upwardly directed and outwardly inclined blade member engaging walls 64v which are received within the mounting portion of the blade member 57 in tight frictional engagement with the inner surfaces of the depending side walls 60. The blade member 57 is thus detachably mounted on the outer surface of the tube 25' and can be removed by forcing the same in a directionfollowing the contour of the tube 25 to an extent that the mounting plate 58. is no longer received within the mounting portion of the. blade member 57, the mounting portion of the blade member 57 and the mounting plate 58 being preferably wedge-shaped.

Fig. 10 illustrates another modified form of blade member .65 frictionally held withina blade member holding means 66 suitably attached tothe outer surface of the tube 25" by welds. The blade member 65 consists of a transverse bottom wall .67 of substantial width having integrally formed with the opposite side. marginsthereof upwardly directed and inwardly inclined cutting portions 68. The angular positioning of each cutting portion 68 relative to the outer surface of the tube 25 is 45 or greater and the upper ends of the cutting portions 68'are sufiiciently spaced from one another to allow shedding of the cut material therefrom. In all other respects the cutting portions 68 are similar in design to those previously described. a 'J' a The blade member holding means 66 conforms in shape to the bottom portion of the blade member 65 by being provided with a bottom wall 69 of greater width than the blade member 65 and having formed alongopposite side.

side margins thereof upwardly extending and inwardly inclined side walls '70. The bottom portion of the blade member 65 is telescopically received within the holding plate 66 and the inner surfaces of the side walls 70 are in frictional engagement with the outer surfaces of the innermost end portions of the cutting portions 68. The blade member 65 is forced in a direction following the contour of the tube 2.5" into and out of frictional holding engagement by the mounting plate 66. a

The various modified blade member structures described can be inexpensively manufactured for original installation on the rotary cutter and for replacement sales. The cutting portions carried by the blade members may be inclined away from one another or inclined toward one another leaving an opening between the outermost ends thereof for shedding purposes. The tubes 25, 25', 25", 25", or 25" may be mounted in any suitable manner for rotation in a lawn mower structure and, if desired, stub shafts may be used to support the ends thereof on suitable hearings in place of the fixed shaft disclosed. Such variations are well within the skill of the art and for purposes of simplification are not illustrated in the drawings. The blade member holding means disclosed in Figs. 8-10 frictionally hold a blade member against displacement on the outer periphery of the tube. While the use of threaded fastening means, rivets and welds have been illustrated in connection with certain embodiments described, it will be readily appreciated that any suitable fastening means can be used particularly in connection with attaching the socket-like blade member holding means on the outer surface of the tube, this type of bolding means not requiring detachment from the tube for purposes of blade removal. For proper wedging engagement between the blade members and the blade holding means disclosed in Figs. 8-10, the holding means will preferably be tapered at the front or leading edge in the known manner to provide a slightly greater width at the leading edge which decreases toward the back or trailing edge. This decrease in width furtherenhances the tight wedging action provided when the blade members are mounted on the tube.

The various forms of blade members illustrated are particularly desirable in that they are less expensive to manufacture due to the relatively small amount of material utilized in forming the same. They are also less expensive in that they require the use of a less amount of carbon heat-treated steel as this expensive material need not be used in forming the center sections or mounting portions. In other words, high carbon heat-treated steel is necessary only in forming the cutting portions and the mounting portions may be formed from less expensive material.

The rotary cutter utilizing a basic rotatable tube structure on which is mounted a plurality of detachable blades in the manner described may be operated at high tip speeds without bowing or without center of gravity displacement to an extent that the efficiency of the cutting action is adversely affected. Any desired length of cutter can be manufactured to meet the varying market requirements. An increase in tip speed can be obtained without increasing the speed of rotation of the tube by merely increasing the diameter of the tube. With this type of structural variation, tube balance is much less critical as compared with the balance of a shaft. The rotary cutter can be provided with increased effective cutting length and operation of a longer cutter will not be hindered by vibrationdue to critical speed operation as a greater stifiness'per unit of weight can be obtained by use of a tube as compared withthe use of a shaft. Due to the availability of higher tip speeds at a lower rotational speed by use of a tube, the drive mechanism may be of uncomplicated design and less expensive in as it is moved along the ground. Suitable rotary cutter height adjustment means can be provided in the lawn mower structure and such has not been disclosed or discussed as it does not constitute a part of the present invention.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary cutter for use in a lawn mower, said cutter including a rotatable tube detachably carrying on the outer periphery thereof a plurality of generally U-shaped blade members, said blade members each being defined by a transversely flat horizontally extending blade mounting portion having integrally formed therewith along the sides thereof a pair of outwardly directed cutting portions which are inclined relative to one another, a forward marginal edge portion of each cutting portion including a bevel defining a cutting edge thereon, and blade member holding means mounted on said tube and in engagement with the blade mounting portion of each blade member to detachably hold the blade member in its operative position on said tube.

2. A rotary cutter for use in a lawn mower, said cutter including a rotatable tube detachably carrying on the outer periphery thereof a plurality of generally U-shaped blade members, said blade members each being defined by a transversely flat horizontally extending blade mounting portion having integrally formed therewith along the sides thereof a pair of outwardly directed cutting portions which are inclined relative to one another, a forward marginal edge portion of each cutting Portion including a bevel defining a cutting edge thereon, and blade me n ber holding means mounted on said tube and in engagement with the blade mounting portion of each blade member to detachably hold the blade member in its operative position on said tube, said blade members being mounted to form a plurality of longitudinally extending rows with the blade members of each successive row being offset to provide for overlapping cutting areas.

3. A rotary cutter for use in a lawn mower, said cutter including a rotatable tube detachably carrying on the outer periphery thereof a plurality of generally U-shaped blade members, said blade members each being defined by a transversely fiat horizontally extending blade mounting portion having integrally formed therewith along the sides thereof a pair of outwardly directed cutting portions which are inclined away from one another, a forward marginal edge portion of each cutting portion including a bevel defining a cutting edge thereon, and strap-like blade member holding means mounted on said tube and in engagement with the blade mounting portion of each 7 blade mounting member to detachably hold the blade member in its operativeposition on said tube.

4. A rotary cutter of claim 1' wherein said blademounting portion is itself generally U-shaped with an arcuate References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Henderson May 30, 1950 Mott Mar. 18, 1952 Allred Jan. 20, 1953 Mott June 21, 1955 Caldwell May 27, 1958 bani 

